Oregon PRSA 2010 Spotlight Awards Showcase Winning PR Campaigns

PRSA Portland Metro Chapter celebrates its 50th year and the outstanding work of public relations practitioners

PORTLAND, OR- October 29, 2010 - Public relations professionals throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington were honored last night at the 2010 Spotlights and Awards of Distinction ceremony hosted by the Portland Metro Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) at the Leftbank Annex in Portland. More than 150 PR and communications professionals gathered to recognize a year of communications success. KGW-TV’s Russ Lewis emceed the event.

This year's Spotlight Award ceremony showcased the best public relations work of the state, as judged by nationally recognized and accredited PR professionals. The entries this year were judged by the Orange County, California PRSA chapter.

“The outstanding work honored tonight demonstrates the high quality of public relations practiced here,” said Dave Thompson, APR, 2010 president of the PRSA-Portland Metro Chapter. “This is what ethical PR is all about: Helping our clients and companies have a voice in the discussion and providing perspective to the public.”

The year’s best public relations campaigns and integrated communications work were highlighted. The chapter presented 31 first-place Spotlight Awards, 15 second-place Merit Awards and four Awards of Distinction. Making history, three of the campaigns received the judges’ perfect score, garnering Best in Show honors.

Categories ranged from employee relations and public affairs to special events and newsletters. Leading the award count, Edelman took home six awards, followed by CMD Agency with five, Watershed Communications with four, Koopman Ostbo with three and Planned Parenthood Columbia Willamette with three.

Lisa Donoughe, founder and principal of Portland’s Watershed Communications, was presented with the William W. Marsh Lifetime Achievement Award for her professional achievements and development of the profession.

Additional Awards of Distinction were presented as follows: Ron Arp of Amplify Group received the 2010 Ron Schmidt Community Involvement Award; Jamie Godfrey, Senior Account Executive at Lane PR, received the 2010 Young Professional Award of Excellence; and John Mitchell, APR, professor and advisor to public relations students at the University of Oregon, received the 2010 Service to the Public Relations Profession - Special Statewide Recognition Award.

About Portland PRSA Metro ChapterThe Portland Metro Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America is one of 110 PRSA chapters located across the country. Established in 1960, the chapter has grown to serve more than 200 members from Oregon and Southwest Washington with the mission of offering public relations professionals a forum for idea sharing, professional development and networking. Learn more at www.prsa-portland.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.